Portable genetic detection and analysis system and method

ABSTRACT

A portable detector is disclosed for detecting certain analytes of interest, such as genetic material (e.g., nucleic acids). The detector includes a reading component for the detection of the analytes, and control circuitry for controlling operation of the reading component. Processing circuitry may be included to perform both primary analysis of acquired data, and where desired, secondary analysis. Where desired, some or all of the computationally intensive tasks may be off-loaded to enhance the portability and speed of the device. The device may incorporate various types of interface, technologies for reading and analysis, positioning system interfaces, and so forth. A number of exemplary use cases and methods are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/540,769, filed Aug. 14, 2019, entitled “PORTABLE GENETICDETECTION AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD”, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/209,351 (now patented as U.S. Pat.No. 10,428,367), filed Jul. 13, 2016, entitled “PORTABLE GENETICDETECTION AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD”, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/790,623, filed Mar. 8, 2013,entitled “PORTABLE GENETIC DETECTION AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD”,which claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/622,773, entitled “PORTABLE GENETIC DETECTION ANDANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD,” filed Apr. 11, 2012. Each of the foregoingis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a field of genetic analysis,such as for diagnostic sequencing and other purposes. More specifically,the disclosure relates to a portable analysis system that may be carriedor transported to desired locations to facilitate sample collection,sample analysis, and further processing.

Genetic sequencing has become an increasingly important area of geneticresearch, promising future uses in diagnostic and other applications. Ingeneral, genetic sequencing involves determining the order ofnucleotides for a nucleic acid such as a fragment of RNA or DNA.Relatively short sequences are typically analyzed, and the resultingsequence information may be used in various bioinformatics methods tologically fit fragments together to reliably determine the sequence ofmuch more extensive lengths of genetic material from which the fragmentswere derived. Automated, computer-based examinations of characteristicfragments have been developed and have been used more recently in genomemapping, identification of genes and their function, and so forth.However, existing techniques are highly time-intensive, and resultinggenomic information is accordingly extremely costly to obtain.

A number of alternative sequencing techniques are presently underinvestigation and development. In such techniques, typically singlenucleotides or strands of nucleotides (oligonucleotides) are introducedand permitted or encouraged to bind to the template of genetic materialto be sequenced. Sequence information may then be gathered by imagingthe sites. In certain current techniques, for example, each nucleotidetype is tagged with a fluorescent tag or dye that permits analysis ofthe nucleotide attached at a particular site to be determined byanalysis of image data. Although such techniques show promise forsignificantly improving throughput and reducing the cost of sequencing,further progress in speed, reliability, and efficiency of data handlingis needed.

For example, in certain sequencing approaches that use image data toevaluate individual sites, large volumes of image data may be producedduring sequential cycles of sequencing. In systems relying uponsequencing by synthesis (SBS), for example, dozens of cycles may beemployed for sequentially attaching nucleotides to individual sites.Images formed at each step result in a vast quantity of digital datarepresentative of pixels in high-resolution images. These images areanalyzed to determine what nucleotides have been added to each site ateach cycle of the process. Other images may be employed to verifyde-blocking and similar steps in the operations.

Genetic analyses of the types described above are presently performed instationary, and even quite specialized equipment in laboratory, medicalfacility, research and similar environments. There is a growing need,however, for more flexible systems that can be taken to the field forperforming at least some sample collection and analysis. The art has yetto respond to these needs, owing in part to the designs of samplepreparation equipment, imaging components, processing needs, and soforth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides novel approaches to genetic analysisdesigned to respond to such needs. The techniques are based upon thedesign of a portable system, such as a hand-held device, that mayreceive samples, perform nucleic acid detection, such as reading ofparticular genes or genetic sequences, and at least partial processingof the resulting data. In certain embodiments described, the data may beonly partially processed on-board, and data may be transferred to othersystems for further processing. Various topologies for the device areenvisaged, including fully equipped devices that are able to performsubstantial processing, devices that are tethered or communicatewirelessly with other local portable devices, and devices that can dolittle or no processing, but transfer data to more processing-capablesystems for processing. Various usage scenarios are also envisaged thatgo hand-in-hand with the portable nature of the device. These maygreatly simplify the data collection and processing services carried outon the device, limit the degree of analysis necessary depending on theapplication, and so forth.

In accordance with a first aspect of the disclosure, portable geneticdetector may comprise a reading component configured to detect nucleicacids of interest in a biological sample introduced into the detector. Acontrol system is configured to control operation of the readingcomponent. A communications component configured to transmit dataproduced by the reading component to a remote computer system foranalysis.

According to other aspects, portable genetic detector comprises areading component configured to detect nucleic acids of interest in abiological sample, and a control system configured to control operationof the reading component. A locating component is configured to locatethe portable detector as it is displaced to sample locations.

In accordance with further aspects, a portable genetic detectorcomprises a reading component configured to detect nucleic acids ofinterest in a biological sample, and a control system configured tocontrol operation of the reading component. A memory circuit isconfigured to store signature data for target genetic sequence. Theprocessing system is configured to compare data derived from the readingcomponent to the signature data.

The invention offers a number of other variants and innovations, both interms of a portable detector device, systems in which the detector maybe utilized, and method for performing detection and analysis utilizingthe advantages and unique benefits of the portable detector.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical overview of a portable genetic analysissystem in accordance with certain aspects of the present techniques;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical view of a variant of the topology shown inFIG. 1 designed to communicate with a portable support unit;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical representation of further topology in which amemory support may be used in conjunction with the portable device;

FIG. 4 illustrates a further topology in which the portable devicereceives a cartridge, such as for sample preparation or management;

FIG. 5 is still a further topology in which the portable analysis systemreceives a removable interface, such as a smartphone;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical representation of certain of the functionalcomponents that may be included in the portable analysis system;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical representation of a portable analysis systemthat incorporates means for locating the system and places where samplesare taken for analysis;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical representation of an exemplary use case inwhich signatures are stored on the portable analysis system foridentifying matches in the field;

FIG. 9 is a process flow diagram illustrating the various stages ofsample and data processing that may be carried out in the portableanalysis system;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps in primary andsecondary processing of data for analysis; and

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a truncated or “process-to-match”technique further facilitating processing within the portable analysissystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a portable analysis system 10 that is designed toprovide ready and easy mobility between locations where samples may betaken and at least partially processed. The system, at its core,comprises a portable detector 12 that is packaged in a housing 14 thathave a form factor sized to be hand-held, carried by a user, and usedwithout the assistance of any special transport equipment. That is, thedetector itself is sufficiently light to be easily carried and thehousing may be configured in any suitable manner to be comfortable andattractive for use. It is contemplated that many different applicationsand uses may be envisaged for the detector that are opened by virtue ofits size and portability. For example, the detector may be used in fieldapplications, such as for environmental pollutant analysis, animaland/or plant and/or microbe detection and population mapping, conflictzone, triage, disaster response, and similar applications, animal andlivestock management, to mention only a few. The detector may also finduse in medical environments, such as hospitals and clinics.

The portable analysis systems set forth herein are particularly wellsuited for nucleic acid detection and analysis. As such variousembodiments of the system, its components and its uses will beillustrated in the context of nucleic acid detection procedures such asnucleic acid sequencing procedures. It will however be understood thatthe portable analysis systems can be used to detect other analytesincluding, but not limited to proteins, small molecules, cells, virusesand other biologically active molecules and particles. In some cases,non-nucleic acid analytes can be detected based on detection of anucleic acid tag that is generated from an assay using those analytes orthat is selected in such an assay. Indeed a portable analysis system ofthe present disclosure can be used for any of a variety of multi-stepchemical detection procedures that involve multiple cycles of chemicalprocessing before a conclusion is reached. The detector can transmitdata to remote processing system to store information in time and thenprocess the entire set before a conclusion is reached. In theillustrated embodiment, the detector 12 is designed to receive andprepare samples for analysis. A sample introduction port 16 is thusprovided through which a sample 18 may be introduced. The sample itselfmay consist of genetic material, biological fluids such as blood,biological tissues or cells, crushed or partially prepared samples,environmental samples such as water or other fluid-borne samples, and soforth. As described below, in certain contexts, the sample preparationmay be off-loaded from the basic device, although the device could bedesigned to both prepare samples for analytical detection and performthe analytical detection, or more generally, sample preparation, anddetection on-board.

In the illustrated embodiment, the portable detector 12 includes adisplay 20 on which instructions, feedback, operator selections andoptions, and so forth may be displayed. An operator interface 22 isprovided through which the operator may make selections and inputinstructions. In certain embodiments, however, these functions could beunited, such as in a touch display. Those skilled in the art will alsorecognize that various functions of the device could be controlled byother interface components, such as buttons, slides, voice recognitionsystems and the like. The portable detector is designed to communicatewith other devices for various purposes. For example, the detector mayreceive programming and instructions from various data sources asindicated by reference numeral 26. These could be data sources remote orlocal to the device, at least in a part of the device's life and use.That is, the portable detector may be programmed by a wired or wirelessconnection to a programming station, charging station or the like whenin the vicinity of such equipment. Alternatively, certain of the dataneeded for operation of the portable detector may be received remotely,such as by wireless networks, based upon any suitable technology andprotocol. Moreover, the device is designed to communicate data to one ormore remote processing systems, also represented by numeral 26 in FIG. 1.

As described more fully below, the detector will typically perform atleast very basic analysis on-board, and may communicate certain resultsof the analysis to more capable processing systems for furtherprocessing. This is particularly the case where the detector will belimited in its own processing capabilities either by the particularprocessing circuitry utilized, the amount of memory provided, thesophistication of the analyses required, and so forth. Off-loadingcertain of these capabilities, in certain presently contemplatedembodiments, will render the device even more portable and light-weight,while not surrendering capabilities of the overall system that wouldthen include the off-board processing capabilities. Finally, in theillustration of FIG. 1 , the remote data resource and processing systemmay be coupled to network or cloud-based resources. It should be noted,however, that the detector 12 could also be coupled to such resourcesdirectly. In general, such resources may provide some or all of the moredemanding processing requirements, may be used as a resource forobtaining desired programming, bio-signatures (as discussed below), andso forth.

Where used with cloud-based resources, the portable detector may beconsidered part of a cloud computing environment for biological data. Asused herein, the term “cloud” or “cloud computing environment” may referto various evolving arrangements, infrastructure, networks, and the likethat will typically be based upon the Internet. The term may refer toany type of cloud, including client clouds, application clouds, platformclouds, infrastructure clouds, server clouds, and so forth. As will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, such arrangements willgenerally allow for use by owners or users of sequencing or detectiondevices, provide software as a service (SaaS), provide various aspectsof computing platforms as a service (PaaS), provide various networkinfrastructures as a service (IaaS) and so forth. Moreover, included inthis term should be various types and business arrangements for theseproducts and services, including public clouds, community clouds, hybridclouds, and private clouds. Any or all of these may be serviced by thirdparty entities. However, in certain embodiments, private clouds orhybrid clouds may allow for sharing of sequence data and services amongauthorized users.

Such cloud computing environments may include a plurality of distributednodes. The computing resources of the nodes may be pooled to servemultiple consumers, with different physical and virtual resourcesdynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, networkbandwidth, and virtual machines. The nodes may communicate with oneanother to distribute resources, and such communication and managementof distribution of resources may be controlled by a cloud managementmodule, residing one or more nodes. The nodes may communicate via anysuitable arrangement and protocol. Further, the nodes may includeservers associated with one or more providers. For example, certainprograms or software platforms may be accessed via a set of nodesprovided by the owner of the programs while other nodes are provided bydata storage companies. Certain nodes may also be overflow nodes thatare used during higher load times.

Several alternative topologies are presently envisaged for the portabledetector. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates a detector 12 that iscoupled to a support pack or processing unit 30. The detector 12, inthis case, may be thought of as an analytic detection or dataacquisition unit, while the support pack may be thought of as a dataanalysis or processing unit. The support pack may provide variousresources that allow the portable detector to be reduced in size andweight, while providing the desired functionality. For example, thesupport pack could be tethered to the portable detector as indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 32. In addition, or alternatively, thesecould communicate with one another wirelessly as indicated by referencenumeral 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support pack 30 comprises a powersupply 34, processing circuitry 36 and communications circuitry 38. Inthis embodiment, at least some of the power for operation of theportable detector 12 can be provided by the power supply 34. The powersupply also affords power for operation of the support pack.Alternatively or additionally, the portable detector 12 can include anon-board power supply. The processing circuitry 36 may supplementprocessing circuitry contained in the portable detector, or in somecases all or virtually all of the processing required by the detectormay be provided by the processing circuitry 36 of the support pack.Finally, communications circuitry 36 may be off-loaded from the portabledetector and provided in the support pack. Such communications circuitrywill allow the system to communicate with local or remote devices,either wirelessly or when physically connected (via a wired connection),as discussed in greater detail below. It should be noted, however, thatthe support pack need not provide all of these services for the portabledetector, and those skilled in the art may recognize other components orservices that may be off-loaded from the portable detector to thesupport pack. In a presently contemplated usage, the portable detectormay be hand-held, and the support pack could be carried, such as eitheron the belt or back of the user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a further topology in which the portable detector 12receives one or more memory devices 40 for storage and communication ofraw, partially processed or fully processed and analyzed data. Anyconvenient memory device may be utilized, such as conventional memorychips, USB flash memories, and so forth. In a field application, thememory device may be utilized with the portable detector to capturecertain data, and a user may insert further memory devices when thememory device is full, or to distinguish between different samples,collection points, and so forth. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, then, the memory device may be inserted into a support pack 30 of thetype described with reference to FIG. 2 . Alternatively, such memorydevices may simply be transported back to a base location where the datamay be re-accessed for processing.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further topology in which a removable samplepreparation/reading cassette 42 is insertable into the portabledetector. The portable detector may contain control and processingcircuitry that is designed to interface with the cassette 42. A port 44is provided in the detector to receive the cassette which is thenautomatically interfaced with any electrical or electronic traces, pins,pads, and so forth for operation of the detector based upon a samplestored in the cassette. In certain presently contemplated embodiments,for example, the cassette may include both a sample support and certainreagent flow control devices. The cassette may also include reagents foruse in nucleic acid detection or sequencing procedures. Still further,where desired, one or more imaging heads or components may be providedin the cassette to allow for the detection of individual nucleotides ona support.

A portable detector can be configured for use with several differenttypes of sample preparation/reading cassettes. For example, differentcassettes can be configured to detect different types of analytes. Inparticular embodiments, one type of cassette can be configured togenomic DNA, a second type of cassette can be configured to detect mRNAand a third type of cassette can be configured to detect proteins.Alternatively or additionally, a sample preparation/reading cassette caninclude machine readable code(s) (or other indicia), such as one or moreRFID tags, barcodes or the like, that direct the portable detector torun a particular process or protocol on the cassette. Taking for examplea cassette that is configured to detect genomic DNA, one or more codescan direct the portable detector and, in turn the analysis system, torun a whole genome sequencing or exome sequencing protocol, for example,to identify allelic variants at particular genetic loci. As anotherexample, a cassette that is configured for detection of mRNA can includecode(s) that instruct the portable detector and related analysis systemto determine expression levels for one or more RNA species, for example,in a digital gene expression analysis. In the example of a cassette thatis configured for protein detection, code(s) can instruct the portabledetector to determine the presence or absence of one or more proteins ofinterest, for example, based on detection of nucleic acid tags obtainedfrom a protein binding assay.

Finally, FIG. 5 illustrates further topology in which the portabledetector 12 is capable of receiving a removable interface/processingdevice 46. It is contemplated that such devices may be speciallydesigned for use with the portable detector, although commerciallyavailable devices may be adapted for this purpose. Thus, the device 46could comprise a smartphone, personal digital assistant, or any suitabledevice capable of offering an interface in providing at least someprocessing and/or control capabilities.

FIG. 6 illustrates certain of the physical and functional components ofan exemplary portable detector 12. The detector is designed to operateon a support 48 that holds samples of genetic material, such as materialcollected by displacement of the portable detector to one or morecollection locations. The support 48 may be contained in a flow cell 50that allows for reagents, flushing fluids, deblocking chemistry, and soforth to be moved over the support to facilitate imaging and analysis.The support 48, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a plurality ofsites 52 disposed as an array on a surface of the support. Each site inthe array may, once the sample is prepared for reading, comprise asingle nucleic acid molecule or a population comprising several copiesof a nucleic acid molecule (i.e. several species having the same nucleicacid sequence). The sample preparation may consist of cleaving orseparating genetic material and disposing the genetic material at suchsites. The sample preparation can further include amplification of thegenetic material before or after the genetic material is disposed at thesites. Examples of supports, flow cells, and technologies for samplepreparation are described, for example, in US 2010/0111768 A1 and U.S.Ser. No. 13/273,666, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

For ease of explanation, the systems, devices, and methods of thepresent disclosure are exemplified herein with regard to optically-basedSBS procedures. For example, flow cell supports useful for opticaldetection of nucleic acid colonies in SBS procedures are set forthabove. In SBS, extension of a nucleic acid primer along a nucleic acidtemplate is monitored to determine the sequence of nucleotides in thetemplate. The underlying chemical process can be polymerization (e.g. ascatalyzed by a polymerase enzyme). In a particular polymerase-based SBSembodiment, fluorescently labeled nucleotides are added to a primer(thereby extending the primer) in a template dependent fashion such thatdetection of the order and type of nucleotides added to the primer canbe used to determine the sequence of the template. A plurality ofdifferent templates can be subjected to an SBS technique on a surfaceunder conditions where events occurring for different templates can bedistinguished. For example, the templates can be present on the surfaceof an array such that the different templates are spatiallydistinguishable from each other. Typically the templates occur atfeatures each having multiple copies of the same template (sometimescalled “clusters” or “colonies”). However, it is also possible toperform SBS on arrays where each feature has a single template moleculepresent, such that single template molecules are resolvable one from theother (sometimes called “single molecule arrays”).

Flow cells provide a convenient substrate for housing an array ofnucleic acids. Flow cells are convenient for sequencing techniquesbecause the techniques typically involve repeated delivery of reagentsin cycles. For example, to initiate a first SBS cycle, one or morelabeled nucleotides, DNA polymerase, etc., can be flowed into/through aflow cell that houses an array of nucleic acid templates. Those featureswhere primer extension causes a labeled nucleotide to be incorporatedcan be detected, for example, using methods or apparatus set forthherein. Optionally, the nucleotides can further include a reversibletermination property that terminates further primer extension once anucleotide has been added to a primer. For example, a nucleotide analoghaving a reversible terminator moiety can be added to a primer such thatsubsequent extension cannot occur until a deblocking agent is deliveredto remove the moiety. Thus, for embodiments that use reversibletermination a deblocking reagent can be delivered to the flow cell(before or after detection occurs). Washes can be carried out betweenthe various delivery steps. The cycle can then be repeated n times toextend the primer by n nucleotides, thereby detecting a sequence oflength n. Exemplary SBS procedures, fluidic systems and detectionplatforms that can be readily adapted for use in a portable detector ofthe present disclosure are described, for example, in Bentley et al.,Nature 456:53-59 (2008), WO 04/018497; U.S. Pat. No. 7,057,026; WO91/06678; WO 07/123744; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,329,492; 7,211,414; 7,315,019;7,405,281, and US 2008/0108082, each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

It should be noted that other types of supports and genetic materialreading technologies besides the SBS procedures exemplified above may beutilized in a portable detector or portable genetic analysis system.Other sequencing procedures that use cyclic reactions can be used, suchas those wherein each cycle can include steps of delivering one or morereagents to nucleic acids. A particularly useful sequencing procedure ispyrosequencing. Pyrosequencing detects the release of inorganicpyrophosphate (PPi) as particular nucleotides are incorporated into anascent nucleic acid strand (Ronaghi, et al., Analytical Biochemistry242(1), 84-9 (1996); Ronaghi, Genome Res. 11(1), 3-11 (2001); Ronaghi etal. Science 281(5375), 363 (1998); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,210,891; 6,258,568and 6,274,320, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties). In pyrosequencing, released PPi can bedetected by being immediately converted to adenosine triphosphate (ATP)by ATP sulfurylase, and the level of ATP generated is detected vialuciferase-produced photons. Thus, the sequencing reaction can bemonitored via a luminescence detection system. Excitation radiationsources used for fluorescence based detection systems are not necessaryfor pyrosequencing procedures. Useful fluidic systems, detectors andprocedures that can be used for application of pyrosequencing to aportable detector of the present disclosure are described, for example,in WIPO Pat. App. Ser. No. PCT/US11/57111, US 2005/0191698, U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,595,883, and 7,244,559, each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

Sequencing-by-ligation reactions are also useful including, for example,those described in Shendure et al. Science 309:1728-1732 (2005); U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,599,675; and 5,750,341, each of which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety. Some embodiments can includesequencing-by-hybridization procedures as described, for example, inBains et al., Journal of Theoretical Biology 135(3), 303-7 (1988);Drmanac et al., Nature Biotechnology 16, 54-58 (1998); Fodor et al.,Science 251(4995), 767-773 (1995); and WO 1989/10977, each of which isincorporated herein by reference. In both Sequencing-by-ligation andsequencing-by-hybridization procedures, target nucleic acids can beimmobilized on a solid support and cycles of oligonucleotide deliveryand detection can be repeated. Fluidic systems for SBS methods as setforth herein or in references cited herein can be readily adapted fordelivery of reagents for sequencing-by-ligation orsequencing-by-hybridization procedures. Typically, the oligonucleotidesare fluorescently labeled and can be detected using fluorescencedetectors similar to those described with regard to SBS proceduresherein or in references cited herein.

Some embodiments can utilize nanopore sequencing. In such embodiments,target nucleic acid strands, or nucleotides exonucleolytically removedfrom target nucleic acids, pass through a nanopore. The nanopore can bea synthetic pore or biological membrane protein, such as α-hemolysin(Deamer & Akeson Trends Biotechnol. 18, 147-151 (2000), incorporatedherein by reference), Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A (MspA, WO2010/034018 A2, incorporated herein by reference) or solid-state pores(U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,627,067 or 6,413,792, each of which is incorporatedherein by reference). As the target nucleic acids or nucleotides passthrough the nanopore, each type of base can be identified by measuringfluctuations in the electrical conductance of the pore (U.S. Pat. No.7,001,792; Soni & Meller, Clin. Chem. 53, 1996-2001 (2007); Healy,Nanomed. 2, 459-481 (2007); and Cockroft, et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130,818-820 (2008), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties). Thus, a device of the present disclosurecan include a detector of electrical properties of nucleic acids,nucleotides and/or their environment.

Some embodiments can utilize methods involving the real-time monitoringof DNA polymerase activity. Nucleotide incorporations can be detectedthrough fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) interactionsbetween a fluorophore-bearing polymerase and γ-phosphate-labelednucleotides, or with zeromode waveguides. The illumination can berestricted to a zeptoliter-scale volume around a surface-tetheredpolymerase such that incorporation of fluorescently labeled nucleotidescan be observed with low background (Levene et al. Science 299, 682-686(2003); Lundquist et al. Opt. Lett. 33, 1026-1028 (2008); Korlach et al.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105, 1176-1181 (2008), the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Some SBS embodiments include detection of a proton released uponincorporation of a nucleotide into an extension product. For example,sequencing based on detection of released protons can use an electricaldetector and associated techniques that are commercially available fromIon Torrent (Guilford, Conn., a Life Technologies subsidiary) orsequencing methods and systems described in US 2009/0026082 A1; US2009/0127589 A1; US 2010/0137143 A1; or US 2010/0282617 A1, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Where desired, a portable detector may comprise a sample preparationcomponent 54 that is configured, for example, to fragment, separate,distribute and/or amplify nucleic acid samples for detection in asequencing procedure such as one or more of those set forth above.Nucleic acid samples can be fragmented, for example, using sonication,passage through a nozzle that forms tiny droplets (nebulisation),chemical cleavage, enzymatic cleavage, heat and/or radiation. Thefragmented nucleic acids can optionally be purified or size selectedprior to other sample preparation steps or prior to detection steps.Useful procedures for size selection include, but are not limited to,isotachophoresis (see, for example, US 2002/0189946 A1, US 2010/0224494A1, and US 2010/0294663 A1, each of which is incorporated herein byreference) or droplet micro-actuation by electrowetting (see, forexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,998,436, 7,815,871, 6,911,132, and US2010/0048410 A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference).Hardware and/or processes described in the aforementioned references canbe used in a portable detector of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, sample preparation can include steps of attachingnucleic acids to a surface and amplifying the nucleic acids on thesurface prior to or during sequencing. For example, amplification can becarried out using bridge amplification to form nucleic acid clusters ona surface. Useful bridge amplification methods are described, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,658; US 2002/0055100 A1; U.S. Pat. No.7,115,400; US 2004/0096853 A1; US 2004/0002090 A1; US 2007/0128624 A1;or US 2008/0009420 A1, each of which is incorporated herein byreference. Another useful method for amplifying nucleic acids before orafter attachment to a surface is rolling circle amplification (RCA), forexample, as described in Lizardi et al., Nat. Genet. 19:225-232 (1998)and US 2007/0099208 A1, each of which is incorporated herein byreference. Emulsion PCR on beads can also be used, for example asdescribed in Dressman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100:8817-8822(2003), WO 05/010145, US 2005/0130173 A1 or US 2005/0064460, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

Various combinations of the above sample preparation process steps canoccur in a portable detector of the present disclosure. Particularlyuseful arrangements for integrating sample preparation with nucleic acidsequencing detection apparatus are provided in WO 2010/077859 A2, andU.S. Ser. No. 61/556,427, each of which is incorporated herein byreference. It will be understood, that some or all of the samplepreparation process steps exemplified herein or in the references citedherein can occur in a portable detector of the present disclosure. Somesteps however, can be carried out prior to loading a sample (orsample-bearing substrate) into a portable detector. For example, nucleicacid fragmentation, size purification and amplification can be carriedout to obtain amplified nucleic acid fragments and the amplified nucleicacid fragments can then be loaded as the ‘sample’ into a portabledetector.

The device may also support reagent delivery components 56 that allowfor the control of flow of chemistry utilized in performing the analysisof the sample. Reagents 58 may also be carried on the device, or thesecould be provided separately (e.g., in one or more cartridges, capsules,vials, cassettes, and so forth). For example, reagents can be providedto a portable detector of the present disclosure in the form of acartridge as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/273,666,which is incorporated herein by reference. The cartridge can containreservoirs for the reagents absent a flow cell or other fluidiccomponents. Alternatively, the cartridge can include fluidic componentssuch as one or more valves, pressure sources (e.g. pumps), fluidic linesand other components used to actively manipulate the fluids in thecartridge. The cartridge can also include one or more integrated flowcells or other sample detection chambers. Exemplary cartridges havingfluidic components and integrated flow cells that can be adapted for usewith a portable detector of the present disclosure are described in U.S.Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/619,784, which is incorporated herein byreference. Further examples of reagents and reagent delivery componentsthat can be readily adapted for use in a portable detector, especiallyfor nucleic acid sequencing embodiments, are described, for example, inUS 2010-0009871 A1; US 2010-0187115 A1; US 2010-0111768 A1; andUS2011-0072914 A1, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In a presently contemplated embodiment, the detector further comprisesreading/imaging components 60. As will be appreciated by those skilledin the art, the chemistry utilized for genotyping, sequencing, andsimilar genetic processing may be based upon compounds that fluorescewhen illuminated by particular wavelengths of light, such as from lasersources. The fluorescent light signals given off by these compounds,once attached to the genetic material at the sites, can be imaged by anoptical imaging head or circuitry, such as circuitry including chargecoupled devices, filters, and so forth. These imaging systems may beminiaturized to facilitate their use in the portable detector. Incertain embodiments, the reading/imaging components may move withrespect to the support, or these may be stationary with respect to thesupport, depending upon such factors as the size of the support, thesize of the reading/imaging component (e.g., a read head) the resolutionof the imaging components, the density of the sites on the support, andso forth. Examples, of reading/imaging components are described, forexample, in US 2010-0111768 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 7,329,860, U.S. patentapplicaton Ser. No. 13/273,666 or U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/619,784,which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The reading/imaging components need not be capable of optical detectionfor all embodiments of the invention. For example, the reading/imagingcomponent can be an electronic detector used for detection of protons orpyrophosphate (see, for example, US 2009/0026082 A1; US 2009/0127589 A1;US 2010/0137143 A1; or US 2010/0282617 A1, each of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety) or as used in detection ofnanopores (U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,792; Soni & Meller, Clin. Chem. 53,1996-2001 (2007); Healy, Nanomed. 2, 459-481 (2007); and Cockroft, etal. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 818-820 (2008), each of which is incorporatedherein by reference).

As further illustrated in FIG. 6 , the portable detector will havecertain on-board circuitry, indicated collectively by reference numeral62. This circuitry may include, for example, interface circuitry 64designed to communicate with the reading/imaging component 60 to receiveraw signal data (e.g. imaging data) for primary analysis, filtering,compression, and so forth. Data processing circuitry 66 is provided, andmay include any suitable type of processor, such as microprocessors,field programmable gate arrays, and so forth. As described more fullybelow, the processing circuitry 66 may perform initial operations on theraw data received from the reading/imaging component 60, and may stop atthe initial primary processing, or may carry on more sophisticatedprocessing designed to recognize particular markers, genes, traits,individuals, and so forth. Memory circuitry 68 supports the processingcircuitry 66 and may store programming carried out by the processingcircuitry 66. Moreover, the memory circuitry may serve to store raw,processed or any other data received or utilized by the interfacecircuitry 64 or processing circuitry 66.

A display/operator interface 70 is provided as described above. This mayinclude a visual display and one or more buttons or locations fortouching by the user, touch screens, and so forth. The display/operatorinterface 70 may also allow for certain audible commands, warnings, andso forth to be received and/or output by the device. Communicationscircuitry 72 allows the detector to communicate with other devices, bothlocal and remote as described above. Such communications circuitry maybe based upon any suitable communications technology or protocol, suchas Internet protocols, cellular telephone protocols, wireless protocols,wired data communication protocols, and so forth. A power supply 74 isprovided to power the various functions of the device, particularly thedata processing circuitry, display, communication circuitry, and soforth. The power supply will typically comprise one or more batteries,voltage regulators, amplifiers, and so forth that allow for extended useof the portable detector between battery changes or recharges. An arrowin FIG. 6 indicates that the power supply 74 may be rechargeable.Finally, control circuitry/routines 76 are provided for coordinating theoperation of the various components, particularly the reading/imagingcomponent, the processing components, the communication components, thedisplay, and so forth. Instructions and routines for the controlcircuitry 76 may be stored in the memory circuitry 68. Where provided,the control circuitry 76 may also regulate operation of the reagentdelivery component, any sample preparation component, and so forth.

As summarized above, some or all of the circuitry may be off-loaded fromthe portable detector. The circuitry may be provided in a support packof the type described above. This is particularly the case for the powersupply 74 illustrated in FIG. 6 , certain of the processing circuitry66, the communications circuitry 72, even of certain of the controlcircuitry 76.

FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the portable detector thatincludes circuitry for determining the location of the detector, such asfor tracking locations where samples are procured or should be procured,or both. In this embodiment, the detector includes areceiver/transmitter 78 as designed to exchange signals with one or morelocating device. For example, the receiver/transmitter 78 may comprise aGPS receiver designed to receive signals from geostationary satellites80 in accordance with existing technologies. Alternatively, thereceiver/transmitter 78 may include cellular data exchange circuitrydesigned to exchange signals with cellular transmitters/receivers 82.Where desired, both of these technologies, as well as others,subsequently developed may be provided in the device. Thereceiver/transmitter is coupled to a locating component 84 which iscapable of triangulating or otherwise computing the location of thedevice based upon the received signals. The locating component 84 iscoupled to the other circuitry 86 as described above, such as forproviding control and power to the locating component. A taggingcomponent 88 may be provided which may interface with data processingcircuitry to place a location tag on data acquired by thereading/imaging component, or to data processed by the data processingcircuitry. Locations 90 of samples may be located on a map 92 that maybe displayed on the interface of the detector. As will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, such locations may indicate points wheresamples should be taken, points where samples have been taken, or both.It is presently contemplated that such functionality may be useful incertain applications, such as for environmental testing, mapping offlora and fauna, persons, animals, livestock, and so forth. As noted,the location information may be stored in a file with any processed datato indicated such factors as the time at which the sample was takenand/or processed, the location at which the sample was taken and/orprocessed, any other environmental or input information provided by theuser via the interface, the identification of the person or persons whotook the sample, the identification of the portable detector, and soforth.

As noted above, a number of uses may be envisaged for the portabledetector. One family of uses presently contemplated involves theidentification of people, animals and stocks, plants, microbes,pathogens, and so forth. Moreover, it is presently contemplated that, asdescribed more fully below, the reduction of analysis to a particularcandidate trait or traits, and/or to a particular candidate individualor individuals, may greatly facilitate the use of the portable detector,and assist in reduction of the size and complexity of the detector byfacilitating processing. FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary set ofscenarios of this type. As shown in FIG. 8 , the portable analysissystem may be utilized to locate and/or identify sub-populations 94, 96,and/or 98, which correspond to human beings 100, animals or stock 102,and one or more microbes 104. Each of these populations may beassociated with genetic material 106, 108, and 110, respectively. Withinthis genetic material, then, particular sequences or segments ofmaterial, each comprising a series of nucleotides, may be identified asindicated by reference numerals 112, 114, and 116, respectively. Each ofthese segments may then be characterized by the particular nucleotidesand their unique order to create signatures identified in FIG. 8 byreference numerals 118, 120, and 122.

It should be noted that in various use cases the segments of interestand the consequent signatures may correspond to such parameters as apopulation of individuals sharing a common trait or gene, particularindividuals separately identifiable by strings of genetic material,particular plants or animals identifiable by such strings, individualmicrobes similarly identifiable, including strings of such microbes, andso forth. Similarly, the signatures may encode particular traits ofinterest, such as physical traits desirable or more generally ofinterest in managed stocks, animal, and plant populations.

The signatures for the sub-population of interest may be stored in asignature repository 124 which may be loaded onto the portable detectoror stored separately. In addition to the signatures themselves, therepository may receive various mappings of traits 126, individuals 128and other mappings 130, such as for species, group identifications, andso forth. These signatures may be utilized, as discussed more fullybelow, in the analysis performed by the portable detector. An advantageof using a signature repository is that analysis, for example, in are-sequencing or sequence alignment protocol can occur more rapidly andusing fewer computational resources than would be necessary when usingstandard databases having more comprehensive and larger collections ofreference sequences.

By way of example, the portable detector may be used in conflict zonesto identify individuals in the field, and in many applications fordisaster relief, humanitarian aid, and so forth. In such situations,individuals may become separated from a family, military unit or othergroup, individuals may be dispersed or individuals may be in need ofassistance. Where possible, the portable detector may receive samplesfor individuals and determine whether a match for a known signature forthe individual can be made. A signature repository used for determiningsuch matches can be custom tailored to the query at hand. For example,in a conflict zone application, the signature repository can includeonly sequences previously acquired for soldiers who were deployed to theparticular conflict field or theater of conflict being investigated.Alternatively, a larger data repository can be used, for example,including sequence data for an entire army, but weighting factors can beused during the comparison analysis based on information and belief asto likely candidates in a particular scenario. Similar signaturerepositories can be made for other subsets of individuals such asmembers of a particular family, citizens of a particular country, state,city or other region, individuals having a criminal record, individualssuspected of a particular criminal activity or the like. In connectionwith localization techniques described above, the individuals could betagged based upon their location, at least at the time of samplingand/or processing. Similarly, in environmental and agriculturalapplications, particular plant varieties, hybrids, genetically modifiedplants, and the like may be tracked and located based upon specificsignatures for the target population of interest. Traits of managedlivestock may also be determined in a similar manner. The system maythus afford selection of individuals for reproduction or separating fromgroups, and so forth.

Thus, an individual whose genomic material is tested using a portabledetector can constitute a candidate for inclusion in a group ofindividuals who share one or more of the genetic characteristic that aredetected by the portable detector. The group against which an individualis compared can be a predefined group such as a military unit suspectedor believed to be associated with a candidate human individual, a familysuspected or believed to be associated with a candidate humanindividual, a herd of animals suspected or believed to be associatedwith a candidate stock animal, a crop variety suspected or believed tobe associated with a candidate individual plant or the like.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process flow 132 that maybe carried out in the portable detector. In general, the process beginswith the sample 134 which is collected, such as from one or morelocations, individuals or any other desired source. A sample preparationphase 136 will generally comprise one or more of the steps set forthpreviously herein, optionally including one or more of isolation ofgenetic material from the sample, cleaving of the genetic material intosmaller segments, and attachment of the smaller segments to the sites ona support, where such support processing is performed. The samplepreparation phase may also include amplification and other operationsdesigned to improve the reliability and signal-to-noise ratio in theacquired data.

A resulting prepared sample 138 is then provided to a reading component140. In several, but not all, presently contemplated embodiments thereading component allows for optical imaging of the genetic material ofthe sample. The sample may be further processed, particularly whensequencing is desired, to read successive nucleotides in a string ofnucleotides at the sites on the sample support for sequencing analysis.The reading component produces raw data 142, which will typicallyinclude image data comprising pixilated values for the genetic materialsat each of the sites, as well as for spaces between these sites. Thisraw image data may then be processed by the processing system 144, suchas to eliminate un-needed image data (e.g., corresponding spaces betweensites) and to determine the type of genetic material (e.g., nucleotides)at the sites. Exemplary methods for masking or compressing image dataand that can be used in accordance with the systems, methods and devicesherein are described in US 2008/0182757 A1 and US 2012/0020537 A1, eachof which is incorporated herein by reference.

The processed data 146 resulting from this primary analysis may then befed to analysis system 148. This analysis system may determine, basedupon the data drawn from the images, whether certain genetic material ofinterest is present in the sample, whether a match to a target isidentified, and so forth. The analysis system may also determine, wheresuch programming is provided, particular sequences of interest, and mayassemble sequences into longer sequences for identification ofindividuals, traits, and so forth. As noted above, where desired, at anystage in this process data may be off-loaded to associated componentsfor processing, or the data may simply be stored and transmitted toother systems for more sophisticated processing. It is presentlycontemplated that initial embodiment of the portable detector, suchoff-loading may be very useful in reducing the processing needs,programming requirements, power requirements of the device, and allowingfor quick and easy access to a certain level of useful information. Asmore rapid and capable processing circuits become available, then, thesemay be utilized in later versions of the detector to enhance theturn-around on processing and analysis, enable more sophisticatedprocessing to take place, and so forth.

As described above, the portable detector and analysis system mayperform various types of analysis, extending from simple raw imageprocessing to primary analysis, to matching of individual sample donorsand populations, to more sophisticated sequencing operations. Certain ofthe processes are illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 10 . In general,FIG. 10 illustrates data analysis 150 as divided between primaryanalysis 152 and secondary analysis 154. Again, certain of the primaryanalysis 152 may be off-loaded from the device, and some or all of thesecondary analysis 154 may off-loaded. However, the various phases ofanalysis are described here to provide an indication of the type of dataprocessing and analysis that may be performed on the device.

In the primary analysis 152, for example, the processing circuitry mayreceive raw data as indicated at step 156. This raw data may be storedas indicated at 158. However, in presently contemplated embodiments notall of the raw data is permanently or semi-permanently stored followingprimary analysis as indicated at step 160. As discussed above, thisprimary analysis may consist of eliminating certain of the image datanot corresponding to sites of interest. The primary analysis may alsoidentify particular genetic material (e.g., nucleotides) by virtue ofparticular wavelengths at which attached material fluoresces under theinfluence of stimulating light (e.g., from lasers included in thereading component). The result of the primary analysis, as discussedabove, may be stored, or some of the data may be discarded as indicatedat step 162. The resulting stored data may comprise a data file whichidentifies one or more nucleotides detected at individual sites on asupport along with addresses of these sites.

The secondary analysis 154 may then include assembly of certain sequencedata, and/or comparison to a known sequence, and/or counting ofparticular sequences, etc. where sequencing is performed. As will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, such operations may include theassembly of a list of nucleotides detected at individual sites throughsuccessive steps in reagent application to the support, attachment oftags or markers to the genetic materials at the individual sites, and soforth. The resulting data may comprise relatively small lengths ofsequences of these nucleotides by individual sites. The processing atstep 164 may further include analysis of the resulting small segments toaccumulate larger segments or sequences of nucleotides in the sample.

Further, at step 166, these sequences may be compared to certain knowngenes, traits, signatures for individuals, species, and so forth.Finally, the processing may end with storage and communication of thedata as indicated at steps 168. Of course, where a processing isterminated on the portable detector at an earlier stage, such datacommunication may also occur then. Still further, where raw orsemi-processed data is produced by the device, this may be stored on amemory support that is removable from the device for conveyance toanother storage and/or analysis system as described above.

As noted above, certain types of processing may be performed on theportable detector that may greatly assist in affording usable resultswhile reducing the processing demands on the detector itself. The affectof relaxed processing demands may allow for a lighter and faster devicecapable of providing useful output in a range of applications. FIG. 11illustrates exemplary processing in a “process-to-match” approach. Theprocessing, designated generally by reference numeral 170, may beginwith receiving population data or signatures at step 172. As noted abovewith reference to FIG. 8 , such signatures may correspond toindividuals, groups of individuals, animal and plant populations,microbes, or any features or traits of these. Preliminary processing isthen carried out as indicated by reference numeral 174 which may besimilar to that summarized above with reference to FIG. 10 . Thispreliminary processing may be generally similar to that described aboveduring phase 152 illustrated in FIG. 10 . At step 176, then, limitedsecondary processing may be performed. In the presently contemplatedembodiment, this limited secondary processing may consist of assemblingof sequences of nucleotides from the information collected from theindividual sites on the support. Longer sequences of these nucleotidesmay then be assembled based upon generally known informatics techniques.At step 178, then, based upon such sequences, the system may determinewhether a match to an individual, trait, species, or any sub-populationis possible. Because a limited number of signatures may be of interest,this match may be performed relatively quickly as compared to sequencingan entire genome. Once sufficient sequencing and comparison has beenmade to confirm a positive match, the processing may be stopped and theresults stored and, where desired, communicated to external devices, asrepresented at step 180.

In accordance with the process exemplified in FIG. 11 , once a positivematch has been confirmed, instructions can be communicated to theportable detector (or to the user of the portable detector) to stop thesequencing procedure. Thus, unnecessary or unwanted consumption ofsequencing reagents can be avoided as can unnecessary waste of time. Ifdesired, a new sample can be loaded on the portable detector andsequenced. Furthermore based on the information obtained from a firstportable detector, instructions can be communicated to one or more otherportable detectors or to the users of the other portable detector(s) tomodify schedules or planned procedures. For example, if sufficientinformation has been obtained from the group of portable detectors thecurrent sequencing procedures can be halted for all of the portabledetectors. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of the otherportable detectors can be tasked with new instructions regarding samplesto evaluate or new priorities can be set with regard to a group ofsamples that is in the queue for one or more portable detectors,respectively. The group of portable detectors (or their users) thatreceive such instructions can be determined based on any number ofcriteria including, but not limited to, proximity to a particularlocation where candidate individuals or samples are located (forexample, as determined from GPS information transmitted from theportable detectors), predefined instructions as to the samples to beevaluated, or optimization of workload spread across a network ofportable detectors (or their users).

A decision process similar to that shown in FIG. 11 can be based onbalancing costs and benefits. For example, processing may begin withreceiving nucleic acid sequencing data from one or more portabledetectors. Primary processing can then carried out, followed bysecondary processing. However, during either or both processing steps,the system can be evaluating factors such as costs (in money or time) ofdata acquisition, data computation, data storage and data transmission.Once costs and benefits are determined to be balanced or to have reachedan otherwise desired level, the processing may be stopped and theresults stored and, where desired, instructions can be communicated toexternal devices. For example, at a decision step, based upon theevaluation of such factors, the system may determine whether to proceedwith sequencing at one or more of the portable detectors or not. Aninstruction to halt or pause sequencing can be sent to one or more ofthe portable detectors in response. Similar evaluation and decisionprocesses can be carried out based on achieving a desired level of dataquality or data quantity. For example, data collection and analysis canbe allowed to proceed until a desired data quality score is achieved(for example, a Q score of 30) and/or until a desired sequence coverageis achieved (for example, 10×, 20× or 30× sequence coverage for one ormore regions of a genome of interest).

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications and changes will occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit of the invention.

1. A portable genetic detector comprising: a reading componentconfigured to detect nucleic acids of interest in a biological sampleintroduced into the detector; a control system configured to controloperation of the reading component; and a communications componentconfigured to transmit data produced by the reading component to aremote computer system for analysis.
 2. The detector of claim 1,comprising a sample receiving component configured to receive andprepare the biological sample on a support for genetic analysis.
 3. Thedetector of claim 2, wherein the sample receiving component iscontrolled by the control system.
 4. The detector of claim 1, whereinthe detector has a form factor suitable for hand-held operation.
 5. Thedetector of claim 1, comprising memory circuitry for storing at leastsome of the data produced by the reading component.
 6. The detector ofclaim 1, comprising a processing system configured to perform at leastprimary analysis of the data produced by the reading component to createprocessed data.
 7. The detector of claim 6, wherein the primary analysiscomprises eliminating image data not corresponding to locations on thesupport having detectable nucleic acids.
 8. The detector of claim 6,wherein at least one of the control system and the processing system isconfigured to balance costs of data acquisition, computation, storageand transmission of data.
 9. The detector of claim 6, wherein at leastone of the control system and the processing system is configured todetermine a quality of data acquired and/or processed.
 10. The detectorof claim 9, wherein at least one of the control system and theprocessing system is configured to alter data acquisition and/or dataprocessing and/or data storage and/or data transmission based upon thedetermined quality.
 11. The detector of claim 1, wherein the readingcomponent comprises an optical imaging system.
 12. The detector of claim1, wherein the detector comprises a base unit, and the sample receivingcomponent comprises a cassette-like system insertable into the baseunit.
 13. The detector of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a baseunit in which the sample receiving component and the reading componentare disposed, and a separate processing unit in which the processingsystem and communications component are disposed.
 14. The detector ofclaim 1, comprising a locating component configured to locate theportable detector as it is displaced to sample locations.
 15. Thedetector of claim 14, wherein the locating component comprises a globalpositioning system locator.
 16. The detector of claim 14, wherein thelocating component comprises a cellular network locator.
 17. Thedetector of claim 1, wherein the communications component is configuredto transmit the data wirelessly to the remote computer system.
 18. Aportable genetic detector comprising: a reading component configured todetect nucleic acids of interest in a biological sample; a controlsystem configured to control operation of the reading component; and alocating component configured to locate the portable detector as it isdisplaced to sample locations.
 19. The detector of claim 18, comprisinga mapping component configured to display a map for guidance oflocations at which samples should be taken or locations at which samplesare taken.
 20. A portable genetic detector comprising: a readingcomponent configured to detect nucleic acids of interest in a biologicalsample; a control system configured to control operation of the readingcomponent; and a memory circuit configured to store signature data fortarget genetic sequence; wherein the processing system is configured tocompare data derived from the reading component to the signature data.